A new study has revealed that just like COVID-19, a cold can also have long-lasting effects on your body. According to UK scientists, there is now evidence of a “long cold” syndrome that can follow infection with common respiratory viruses, including common cold viruses and influenza.
During the study, the researchers analysed 10,000 people with COVID and non-COVID illnesses and found all groups could get long-lasting symptoms.
“Our findings suggest that there may be long-lasting health impacts from other respiratory infections that are going unrecognised,” the authors wrote as quoted by The Hill.
The team found that long COVID were more likely to have reduced taste or smell and weakness. Meanwhile, people with long colds experienced symptoms like coughing and stomach pain. According to scientists, the chances of these symptoms are higher with severe illnesses.
They also revealed it is still not known why only certain people are more susceptible to such long-term effect of the diseases.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has cast a much-needed spotlight on post-acute infection syndromes, highlighting the need for improved understanding, diagnosis, and treatment of these conditions,” the study reads. “While the high symptom burden we observed in participants with previous SARS-CoV-2 infection illustrates the extensive reach of long COVID, the similar burden observed among people with previous non-COVID-19 [diseases] suggests that the lasting impacts of these infections may be underestimated.”
The findings of the study were published in the Lancet’s EClinicalMedicine journal.
What are the symptoms of ‘Long Cold’?
According to the scientists, the following symptoms can occur when experiencing ‘Long Cold’:
- Trouble with taste and smell
- Chronic fatigue or “brain fog”
- Coughing
- Stomach pain
- Diarrhea
